WINDUST PARK
Pasco, Washington · on Lake Sacajawea
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- May
About WINDUST PARK
Windust Park is a US Army Corps of Engineers day-use and campground site on Lake Sacajawea, the Snake River reservoir behind Ice Harbor Dam, about 6 miles off the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway southeast of Pasco, Washington. It offers a boat ramp and 24 free first-come-first-served campsites in a remote, tree-shaded riverside setting, and its small designated beach serves as the local swimming hole, a simple place to swim on this quiet stretch of the reservoir.
The park sits directly on the waterfront of Lake Sacajawea in the arid, open Snake River canyon country of eastern Washington, with mature shade trees scattered through an otherwise remote, undeveloped-feeling setting popular with visitors seeking to get away from urban areas.
Swimming at WINDUST PARK
Recreation.gov's official description states the lake offers 'great boating and swimming opportunities,' and camper-review aggregators describe a small designated beach area at the park where loaner life jackets are provided, suggesting casual, family-oriented swimming in reservoir water alongside boating and fishing rather than a deep hiking or waterfall destination.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Pasco, take Highway 12 east to the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway, drive about 30 miles, turn right on Burr Canyon Road, and continue about 6 miles to the park (address given as 5262 Burr Canyon Rd, Pasco, WA 99301).
Parking: Day-use parking is available near the boat ramp/day-use area; the boat ramp draws busy morning and evening traffic per visitor reviews, but no specific lot capacity is documented in available sources.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up access. The designated swim beach is described as being over by the tent-camping area, a short walk from day-use/campground parking, not a hike.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
A small designated swim beach near the tent-camping area provides loaner life jackets, which is family-friendly, but there are no lifeguards on duty, no documented shallow-entry grading, and the same boat ramp that serves water-skiers and motorboats gets busy mornings and evenings, so young kids should be watched closely for boat wake and traffic near the launch.
Parking
Lot
Day-use parking sits near the boat ramp and beach; no formal lot capacity is documented, and visitor reviews note it gets busy with boat-trailer traffic in the morning and evening. Camping itself is free; no day-use parking fee is mentioned in any source found.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets with running water in the main bathroom near the day-use/camping area, plus vault toilets elsewhere around the campground.
Hours
No posted daily gate hours found. Camping/facility use is reported as seasonal, roughly May through September, per visitor-review aggregators; confirm current status with the USACE Walla Walla District office (509-547-7781) before a visit outside that window.
On the water
Windust Park has its own boat ramp onto Lake Sacajawea (the Snake River reservoir behind Ice Harbor Dam), and the lake-wide recreation page lists water-skiing and boating among the popular activities, confirming motorized use. No source explicitly documents kayak/canoe/paddleboard use or any no-wake/electric-only restrictions at this specific location, so those are left undocumented rather than assumed allowed.
What regulars say
No rental or outfitter business could be confirmed operating at or near Windust Park itself; a single marina link (Charbonneau Marina) surfaced on the Corps' Lake Sacajawea recreation page, but its listed web address no longer resolves and it sits at the opposite (downstream, Burbank-area) end of the reservoir, roughly 25 to 30 miles from Windust by road, so it was not included as a rental option for this specific spot. Campers describe a quiet, family-used spot: 'very few people on a Wednesday night,' campers splashing and fishing along the small beach, loaner life jackets at the swim area, and the boat ramp drawing the only real crowds (weekend/holiday mornings and evenings).
WINDUST PARK: FAQ
Does WINDUST PARK charge a fee?
Camping is free (24 primitive, first-come-first-served sites); no day-use fee is mentioned in any source found.
Is WINDUST PARK kid friendly?
A small designated swim beach near the tent-camping area provides loaner life jackets, which is family-friendly, but there are no lifeguards on duty, no documented shallow-entry grading, and the same boat ramp that serves water-skiers and motorboats gets busy mornings and evenings, so young kids should be watched closely for boat wake and traffic near the launch.
Do I need to hike to reach WINDUST PARK?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for WINDUST PARK?
Day-use parking sits near the boat ramp and beach; no formal lot capacity is documented, and visitor reviews note it gets busy with boat-trailer traffic in the morning and evening. Camping itself is free; no day-use parking fee is mentioned in any source found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to WINDUST PARK?
Windust Park has its own boat ramp onto Lake Sacajawea (the Snake River reservoir behind Ice Harbor Dam), and the lake-wide recreation page lists water-skiing and boating among the popular activities, confirming motorized use. No source explicitly documents kayak/canoe/paddleboard use or any no-wake/electric-only restrictions at this specific location, so those are left undocumented rather than assumed allowed.
When is the best time to visit WINDUST PARK?
The campground is reported to operate seasonally from May through September.
What are the rules at WINDUST PARK?
Pets are reportedly not permitted per visitor reviews; fire restrictions may apply seasonally. No official regulation page for the park itself was accessible during this research (the USACE Walla Walla District site returned an access error).
What water body is WINDUST PARK on?
WINDUST PARK is on Lake Sacajawea, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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